The Assassin's Heart

Empress

My name is Revekah Ruin and I am the empress of the underworld.

A bit of a formal title for someone who is over all of the rough, tough, crude folk that make a living by stealing, spying, and killing. And no, my last name's not really Ruin. I've never known my real last name. But, you know... name's are only what people know you to be.

There are four types of people in my world: people that hunt me, including the emperor and all of his silly terminators; people that pay me; people that follow me; and people I kill. No one in my world cares about the welfare of another and if someone shows weakness they won't even live long enough to regret it.

There is a reason I lead the underground. I am the best assassin, thief, and spy these kingdoms have ever known and have proven this fact in order to get here. I have never lost in a fair fight-or an unfair one for that matter-and never will as long as I'm alive. Most men underestimate me just because I'm a girl, but those fools never last long. There is not a man, woman, or child in all the kingdoms that does not tremble at a whisper of my name. I am the most powerful human in all of the realm- second only to the emperor. Not to brag or anything.

Nothing happens in the 13 kingdoms without my knowledge. I own the spy network and my men have infiltrated all the ranks of knights and guards. All, that is, except the terminators of course. They are practically impossible to infiltrate or even to spy on, but luckily they're easy enough to kill. So, no worries there.

Tonight is the full moon, one of the most dangerous nights due to the crystal clear visibility. These nights are my favorite, especially when there's no fog. On these nights there are almost double the terminators swarming the streets as usual. They seem to think they have a slight chance when they can see better. And even though they do it often they still get surprised when they fail.

~

My spies informed me earlier of a new batch of termites-the underground's term for the terminators-that are going for the first kill tonight. I wonder if these ones will be just as cocky as last time. Poor things.

The last termites were dumb enough to attack us at our base, the "abandoned" train station, so of course none of them survived. If the new ones are as stupid as the old ones, they won't last a week. This ought to be fun.

The train station has been the underground central hideaway since it was abandoned almost 10 years ago. That was just before I joined the Underground Society. I was ten years old when I began working as a spy for the old crime lord, Kato Killjoy. Kato was the longest ruling crime lord, being in his 30's and having led since age 19. No had dared challenge him since the brutal defeat of the last young man to challenge him. But that was all he was-- a brute. He had no brains, no tactics, and he underestimated everyone smaller than him. Honestly, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did.

By the time I was eleven and small for my age too, I had the reputation for getting the best information and was by far the fiercest fighter in the spy ranks. I was also the most ruthless leader and had earned the reputation for my icy heart. That winter, I challenged Kato for the throne. He lasted one minute using only knives.

In the top of the train station is a guarded trapdoor to the roof, surrounded by barbed wire and blended perfectly with the other buildings. Only the most clever thief could find the door, much less break in. Of course, I snuck in when I was 10 before I decided to join the Society. On the roof, a guard, whose name I can't bring myself to care to remember, nods as I pass him into the night.

The moon is indeed full but sadly there's a trace of fog on the streets. Well, better to sneak up on the poor termites I guess. It should hide me well enough too, but I was looking forward to a challenge and the fog has made hunting tonight all too easy.

Over the years I've gotten very good at roof jumping, especially in this part of town where the buildings are packed closer together and the roofs aren't as slick as in other areas. As a young thief, I almost never left the rooftops except to sneak into open windows and to pick pockets of unsuspecting buyers at the market square. I normally enjoy the exhilaration and adrenaline I get from leaping high above the city streets in the night air, but something is definitely different tonight. A chill goes down my spine and it's not from the cold.

I have been trained as a spy to notice when I'm being watched and this is exactly what it feels like. It's probably some termite that caught a glimpse of me and is following me, but I should have noticed him earlier in that case. I must be growing sloppy and that's every hunter's downfall. I know no one can see me from the streets through the thick fog now settling at ground level which means I'm being followed along the roofs. The termites should be all over this part of the city by now since they leave the castle barracks at sundown, but they've never dared venture to the rooftops in my experience. I wonder why that's changed now?

That's when I see him. A hunched figure on the roof across the street staring at me with bright blue eyes glinting in the moonlight. How could I have missed him? Then he moved like a ghost and his black cloak completely hides him in the the night. Well, these new termites certainly had been trained well. This should get interesting.

That was too perfectly planned to be an accident. He must have been watching my every move and hidden only when he knew I had spotted him. Well if he wants to play that way I'll just have to show him that I'm the best at playing cat and mouse. I know these streets better than anyone and he was going to regret being my first prey tonight.

Sprinting to the edge of the roof I continue my path along the rooftops while listening for the soft padding of his feet, following me from across the narrow street. I lead the mysterious termite along this street and the next and the next, not slowing once, but he never falters and his footsteps don't seem to tire at all. These termites must really have been trained more than I anticipated. Perhaps this night would offer a bit of a challenge. I know exactly the place for this game tonight.

In the darkest parts of town between the buildings on either side of the street are alleyways that are almost impossible to navigate and have been the termites least favorite section for as long as I can remember. This is also my favorite place to play with my mice, or in this case-squash my termite.

Not slowing, I slip down into the alley to end this thrilling game. It's really to bad it has to end now...